My heart twinges thinking about that time. Why did everything have to get so fucking complicated? Maybe it’s a bad idea for me to even go to this party. I don’t want to dress up, and I definitely don’t want to end up in a couple’s costume with Cari. I sigh, putting my phone down on my lap. Maybe it’s better if I don’t text her back right now.
“What’s going on with you? You look like you want to puke.” Rachel looks at me curiously.
“Nothing.” I shake my head. My roommates know about Cari; it was inevitable not to, but they don’t know all the details.
“How about this, you tell me what’s going on, and I’ll text the girl from last night?” she suggests.
“How about you text her and I go take a nap?” I counter with a smirk.
“Sorry, babe, we both know that smirk doesn’t work on me like all the other girls.” Rachel blows me a kiss, and I laugh. Not that we’ve ever tried, but I like being platonic with my very gay roommates. It makes life easier. We’ve never even had a question of sexual tension between us, and that’s the way I like it.
“It’s honestly nothing. Cari wants to go shopping together for costumes for Aspen’s Halloween party, but I don’t even think I’m going to go.” I shrug.
“Excuse me, you have to go! And didn’t I see you two sneaking off last year, Mr. Ghostface? Or was that a different butch dressed up in a Scream mask?” Rachel jokes.
“I’m pretty sure it’s a popular costume.” I smile.
“Is costume shopping code for like hooking up or something? Because you guys still do that, so I’m not understanding the issue.”
“I don’t know. Things with her lately are just feeling more real than I want. So, I’m just trying not to complicate things.” I sigh.
“I get that. Have you told her that?” she asks.
“Well, yeah.”
“Then what’s the big deal? Either way you definitely have to go to the party and you need a costume because Aspen made it clear River wants everyone in costume.” Rachel laughs.
“You’re right,” I groan.
“Plus, you could always meet someone else at the party. If you two aren’t exclusive, then maybe that would give her the hint about the distance you need.”
My eyes widen thinking about Cari’s reaction. Just knowing her, I know she’d freak if she saw me with someone else. It wasn’t like I hadn’t been out with other women in the last year, but it wasn’t something I did in front of her. Knowing if she saw it first-hand, I can’t promise there wouldn’t be bloodshed. And I think it might be aimed more at whoever I was with, not at me. I decide to just tell her I’m buying something online and call it a day. The party is next week, and I’ll see her then.
“Alright, I was honest, now it’s time to get texting over there,” I say, glaring at Rachel.
Chapter Seven
CARI
“Happy Halloween!” River answers the door dressed as Harley Quinn, complete with a red and black bodysuit and booty shorts. Her hair is up in pigtails, dyed on both sides, and she has thigh-high black boots that show off her model legs.
“Holy shit, look at you!” I praise my best friend.
“Wow, I love the throwback.” River looks over my costume. My blonde hair is also in pigtails, and my makeup is done to look like Chucky. I’m wearing a pair of jean overall shorts, a striped crop top that I cut to show off my tits, and lace over-the-knee stockings with my Converse.
“Come on in, a lot of people are still on the way, but drinks are in the kitchen. Aspen is the mixologist tonight.”
I raise an eyebrow, knowing Aspen doesn’t like to drink alcohol, so that was an interesting choice. I walk through the front of their apartment, and Halloween decorations are all over the foyer.
They moved into a brownstone in Midtown after getting married, which provided a living room large enough for their Halloween parties. There are a bunch of people I recognize from last year, and some people I don’t. River and Aspen have alwaysbeen very social, so it doesn’t surprise me. I wave to the familiar faces and excuse myself to the kitchen to grab a drink.
“Hey!” Aspen greets me with a hug, and her costume is just as amazing as River’s. A long red wig, a green bodysuit, and fake green vines going up one leg and down one arm.
“Drink?” She holds up an orange solo cup. Something I didn’t know they even made.
“I’d love one.” I take a sip and am surprised at how good it tastes. “Damn, when did you learn how to do this?”
“I’ve been practicing. It’s my way of being in control of it but not drinking.” Aspen smiles proudly.
